Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Does IBD cause any other health problems?

IBD can cause gallstones or kidney stones. It can also cause anemia because a person with intestinal ulcers can lose a lot of blood.

A severe case of Crohn's disease can inflame other areas of the body (such as the eyes or joints) or cause skin ulcers. It can also cause fistulas, tunnels of tissue that develop between sections of intestine or between the intestine and the skin, anus, or vagina. They're dangerous because they can become infected. Crohn's can leave scars in the small intestine, creating blockages. All of these things can interfere with the ability of your child's small intestine to absorb nutrients. For 30 percent of kids with Crohn's, this delays development and stunts their growth. Ulcerative colitis increases the risk for colon cancer later on in life. In rare cases, a bad bout of colitis or Crohn's can lead to a serious condition called toxic megacolon, in which the colon becomes paralyzed and can't function normally. If this happens, medications can often correct it, but if not, part of the colon has to be surgically removed.

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